Reports usually include descriptions of the methods used.Įssays don't usually refer to the methods you used to arrive at your conclusions. They may include applying theory to practice if you are in a practice-based field.Ī report usually contains tables, charts and diagrams.Įssays don't usually include tables, charts, or diagrams. Some reports focus on applying theory to your field of work.Įssays usually focus on analysing or evaluating theories, past research by other people, and ideas. Reports often present data and findings that you have collected yourself, for example through a survey, experiment or case study. Reports often originate from outside academic subjects and are typically used in the world of work.Įssays originate in academic settings, including practice-based subjects. Reports are divided into headed and numbered sections and sometimes sub-sections, using the IMRaD format(see below).Įssays are not divided into sections but you may have separate headed appendices.

Your assignment will also depend on your discipline, the purpose of your work, and your audience – so you should check what you need to do in your course and module handbooks, instructions from your lecturer, and your subject conventions.

This table compares reports and essays and provides an outline of the standard structure for each. You subject might need different types of information in your introduction – some disciplines include a short background and context here, while others begin their discussion, discuss their resources or briefly signpost the topic. Essays usually have specific content and a planned structure with a focus on sense and flow.Reports depend heavily on your subject and the type of report.There is no single right way to write a report or essay, but they are different assignments. Depending on your subject you may use all of these features, a selection of them, or you may have additional requirements. This page describes general features of academic reports and essays. Here we explore the key differences between reports and essays. You'll complete assignments with different requirements throughout your degree, so it's important to understand what you need to do for each of them.

Apa format open office template